Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Judge seeks probe on ‘corruption’ in Cebu courts
REGIONAL Trial Court Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia is not taking the issue on the alleged “corruption in the judiciary” sitting down.
Yesterday, de Gracia handed over to Supreme Court Administrator Christopher Lock his letter asking for an immediate probe on the “revelations” of Judge Meinrado Paredes of RTC Branch 13 during a brief address in a forum organized by the Legal Alternatives for Women (Law) Inc.
“As the charge severely discredits the judiciary, coming as it did from one of its own, I recommend an immediate probe of its verity through an immediate investigation and the imposition of sanctions whenever warranted,” read De Gracia’s letter.
Rates for TRO
Attached to the letter was the issue of Sun.Star Cebu last Friday where Paredes said that there is a going rate for a temporary restraining order and that the corruption extends not only to how cases are resolved but also in the patronage politics that govern how judges are appointed.
Lock, who was in Cebu yesterday for another matter not involving the allegations, was also asked by the judge to handcarry his letter addressed to the Society for Judicial Excellence.
De Gracia said there is a need for immediate intervention from the society over the statement of Paredes, who warned that “badges and plaques, when undeserved, mislead the public.”
Paredes was earlier recommended by the Society for Judicial Excellence as recipient of the Judicial Excellence Award but he declined the recommendation, saying the body lacked credibility.
Intervention
“As the integrity of the award and the awardees is now suspect because of the frank and bare-knuckle assault, I recommend immediate intervention such that the matter maybe quantified and requisite measures imposed,” said de Gracia, who himself is an awardee.
According to the judge, he was besieged by several calls from enrolled members of the society expressing disgust at what they said was the brazen and public denigration of the award.
De Gracia also disclosed that the morning session of all the RTC judges yesterday was “quite awkward” that “nobody dared to talk about it.”
All the judges meet every Monday and have breakfast together. (KNT)
